Today, we're also reviewing Midnight Dolls by Kiki Sullivan. I enjoyed The Dolls last summer, so I was thrilled when I was sent a copy of this book.

Kiki Sullivan brings us back to Carrefour, where Eveny is beginning to learn the depths of her powers. However, a new threat proves that there are deeper and darker secrets to her heritage than she ever realized...

Two-second recap:

In Midnight Dolls, Kiki Sullivan furthers Eveny Cheval's understanding of her heritage by delving into her background as it's revealed that she's the queen of two magicaltraditions.

However, power comes with a price, as Eveny's loved ones come under attack by the anti-magic organization Main de Lumière, and Eveny learns that there's a price to pay as she tries to save them.

Synopsis:

More secrets. More power. More trouble.

The secrets swirling around Carrefour are deepening, and the lies are more tangled than ever as Eveny discovers the truth about her past.

It’s only been a couple of months since Eveny Cheval discovered that she’s a powerful queen of zandara, the voodoo-like form of magic that has controlled the town of Carrefour for generations. But she barely has time to consider what this means before she’s attacked by the murderous anti-magic organization Main de Lumière once again.

Alarmed, her powerful father takes her – and her sister zandara queens, Peregrine and Chloe – to his home on mysterious Caouanne Island. But the island holds its own secrets about Eveny’s past – and her future. Now, she’s torn between two magical traditions – and two guys: mysterious Caleb, who’s pushing her away, and charismatic Bram, who seems too good to be true.

With Main de Lumière closing in and Carrefour’s defenses crumbling, Eveny, her sister queens, and the townspeople she’s supposed to protect are in danger. And as the revelations about her past continue pouring in, Eveny begins to realize that she might just be the only one who can save them all. Now, she has to fight for the people and the town she loves – and for her own life.

Welcome to Carrefour, where long-buried secrets simmer like heat over the bayou and whatever you desire most can be yours—for a price.

Full review:

I enjoyed The Dolls last year, so I was looking forward to spending some more time back in the world of Eveny and Carrefour.

Kiki Sullivan brings us back into Eveny's world, after she's had a little more time to adjust to her power. However, things soon come to a head when an attempt is made on Eveny's life by Main de Lumière. With her life on the line, Eveny's father brings her to his world on Caouanne Island, and Eveny quickly discovers that she holds the key to two great magical legacies...

What I loved about Midnight Dolls, was the fact that Sullivan made the deliberate choice to add another layer of complications and mythos to Eveny's world. Rather than have Eveny explore what she already knew, Sullivan proves that there is still a lot of unknown ground for Eveny to cover in the magical realm, especially with the revelation of her heritage from her father's side.

As she explores that ground, Sullivan wisely challenges Eveny to determine just which life she wants to pursue. Eveny has the option of power in two very different heritages, and she's shown the very real possiblities of both. While Main de Lumière forces her hand at several junctures - including bloody, horrifying deaths that reinforce the danger that Eveny and her fellow Queens are in - Eveny uses those moments to find the courage to carve out a path that's uniquely her own, and will be highly appreciated by readers.

Though Sullivan brings in a love triangle to complicate Eveny's life, it's done so with the intention of emphasizing several of the greatest themes of the book, including free will. Caleb and the newly-introduced Bram are both attractive in their own right, but how they help Eveny grow, which I appreciated the most.

All in all, this return to Carrefour is bloodier, more dramatic and with higher stakes. But that's what's spectacular about it. Kiki Sullivan has really hit her stride with this sophomore book, and I'm absolutely looking forward to more books in the Dolls series.

Final verdict:

Kiki Sullivan grows with each book, and that growth is evident in Midnight Dolls. While everything readers loved about The Dolls is still present - including fantastic drama between Eveny and her fellow queens, and a lot of romance - it's also a thoughtful study on how one girl is beginning to learn what it takes to be a leader.

Strongly recommend for all readers, full stop. This is a creepy, magical read, and just in time for fall. ​

About the author:

Kiki Sullivan is the author of The Dolls series. Like the main character Eveny Cheval, Kiki used to live in New York and now calls the American South home. Unlike Eveny, she finds it impossible to keep her rose garden alive and has been singlehandedly responsible for the unfortunate demise of countless herbs. She may or may not have hung out with queens of the dark arts, strolled through creepy New Orleans cemeteries at night, or written the first book of this series with a red-headed Louisiana voodoo doll beside her computer. Visit her at www.KikiSullivan.com.